English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'nag'

Word Frequency

nag

(næg )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense nags , present participle nagging , past tense, past participle nagged
1. verb
If someone nags you, they keep asking you to do something you have not done yet or do not want to do.
[disapproval]
The more Sarah nagged her, the more stubborn Cissie became. [VERB noun]
My girlfriend nagged me to cut my hair. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
She had stopped nagging him about never being home. [VERB noun + about]
...children nagging their parents into buying things. [VERB noun + into]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: scold, harass, badger, pester   More Synonyms of nag
A nag is someone who nags.
Aunt Molly is a nag about regular meals. [+ about]
nagging   uncountable noun
Her endless nagging drove him away from home.
Synonyms: scolding, complaining, critical, sharp-tongued   More Synonyms of nag
2. verb
If something such as a doubt or worry nags at you, or nags you, it keeps worrying you.
He could be wrong about her. The feeling nagged at him. [VERB + at]
...the anxiety that had nagged Amy all through lunch. [VERB noun]
Something was nagging in the back of his mind. [VERB]
Synonyms: worry, trouble, bother, bug [informal]   More Synonyms of nag
3. countable noun
People sometimes refer to a horse as a nag.
[informal]
More Synonyms of nag
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

nag in British 1

(næɡ )
verbWord forms: nags, nagging or nagged
1. 
to scold or annoy constantly
2. (when intr, often foll by at)
to be a constant source of discomfort or worry (to)
toothache nagged him all day
noun
3. 
a person, esp a woman, who nags
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
nagger (ˈnagger)
  noun
Word origin of 'nag'
C19: of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish nagga to gnaw, irritate, German nagen
Word Frequency

nag in British 2

(næɡ )
noun
1. often derogatory
a horse
2. 
a small riding horse
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'nag'
C14: of Germanic origin; related to neigh
Word Frequency

nag in American 1

(næg ; nag)
verb transitiveWord forms: nagged or ˈnagging
1. 
to annoy by continual scolding, faultfinding, complaining, urging, etc.
2. 
to keep troubling, worrying, etc.
nagged by a thought
verb intransitive
3. 
to urge, scold, find fault, etc. constantly
4. 
to cause continual discomfort, pain, etc.
a nagging toothache
noun
5. 
a person, esp. a woman, who nags
: also ˈnagger
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
naggingly (ˈnaggingly)
  adverb
naggy (ˈnaggy)
  adjectiveWord forms: ˈnaggier or ˈnaggiest
Word origin of 'nag'
< Scand (as in Swed nagga, obs. Dan nagge, to nibble, gnaw, nag) < ON gnaga: for IE base see gnaw: for sense development see fret1
Word Frequency

nag in American 2

(næg ; nag)
noun
1.  Archaic
a small saddle horse; pony
2. 
a horse that is worn-out, old, etc.
3.  Slang
a racehorse, esp. an inferior one
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'nag'
ME nagge, akin to obs. Du negghe < ?

Example sentences containing 'nag'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Things still nag away at him from time to time. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But one thing nags away at me. Times, Sunday Times (2016)They are unsubtle gifts bought for lazy loved ones by nagging loved ones. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Yet one question nags him: has he fulfilled his potential? Times, Sunday Times (2016)On the first morning, the seamers were erratic initially and resorted to trying cutters too early instead of nagging away on a steady line and length. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The constant nagging from officials to downsize and be more fuel efficient seems to have (ironically) encouraged motorists to go extra large. The Sun (2017)It was a question that nagged away at them. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Yet it still looks like the nag to back. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Soon that nagging pain in one toe becomes blood poisoning. Christianity Today (2000)Except for this nagging suspicion that it all smells a bit of fish. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Yet there is something really nagging me about this whole thing. The Sun (2008)The unhappiness stemmed from a nagging sense that he could have been so much more. Times, Sunday Times (2015)Parents drive me up the wall with their constant nagging and worrying. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Drug resistance has exploded from nagging concern into potential global catastrophe in the space of a generation. Times, Sunday Times (2016)But there was something nagging at the back of my mind. Times, Sunday Times (2008)And yet there is one nagging point that remains. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Why do we need to constantly be nagged into doing something? Times, Sunday Times (2007)Because there is the old nagging. The Sun (2013)And it nagged away at me. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Too often when the domestic tumult ceases, the nagging anxiety of work kicks back in. Times, Sunday Times (2012)But there is a nagging worry for all Reds fans. The Sun (2008)Fear in old age is terrible: a nagging anxiety that eats away at confidence and wellbeing. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The nagging ankle injury that kept him out for long periods last term came back to haunt him last Friday against Coventry. The Sun (2014)The bills are triple what they'd be if I had an old nag. Times, Sunday Times (2008)And that is why I have a nagging suspicion the Italian will go the way of his predecessors. The Sun (2010)

Word Lists

Types of horse

Trends of 'nag'

Used Occasionally. nag is one of the 30000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'nag'

British English: nag /næɡ/ VERB
If someone nags you, or if they nag, they keep asking you to do something you have not done yet or do not want to do.
My girlfriend nagged me to cut my hair.
The child learns that if they nag and moan loud enough they will get their own way.
  • American English: nag
  • Arabic: يُزعِجُ إِزْعَاجَاً مُتَّصِلاً
  • Brazilian Portuguese: apoquentar
  • Chinese: 唠叨
  • Croatian: zanovijetati
  • Czech: sekýrovat
  • Danish: plage
  • Dutch: zeuren
  • European Spanish: dar la lata
  • Finnish: nalkuttaa
  • French: tarabuster
  • German: herumnörgeln
  • Greek: γκρινιάζω
  • Italian: criticare
  • Japanese: がみがみ小言を言う
  • Korean: 잔소리하다
  • Norwegian: mase
  • Polish: gderać
  • European Portuguese: chatear
  • Romanian: a cicăli
  • Russian: придираться
  • Spanish: dar la lata
  • Swedish: tjata
  • Thai: จ้องจับผิด
  • Turkish: dırdır etmek
  • Ukrainian: чіплятися
  • Vietnamese: cằn nhằn

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'nag'

  • naffly
  • NAFTA
  • Nafud
  • nag
  • Naga
  • Nagaland
  • nagana

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'N'

Source

Definition of nag from the Collins English Dictionary

Declarative, interrogative, and imperative statements

Each sentence in English provides some type of information. For example, a sentence can be a statement, a question, a request, a command, a denial or a response, etc. In English the choice and order ...
Read more about 'Declarative, interrogative, and imperative statements'
Word of the day:
nectarivorous
feeding on nectar
See full definition
Apr 24, 2018
Take better control of your finances with these simple steps
Do you find yourself living paycheque to paycheque? Dr Peter Brooks offers his advice to make that money last
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'nag': 4
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018